Mullen Jennifer N, Liu Pan, McDonnell Christina G, Stanton Kasey, Kotelnikova Yuliya, Johnson Sheri L, Hayden Elizabeth P
Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States.
Curr Issues Personal Psychol. 2023 Jan 16;11(3):216-227. doi: 10.5114/cipp/156767. eCollection 2023.
The dominance behavioral system (DBS) is a biologically based system that underpins individual differences in motivation for dominance and power. However, little is known about the DBS in childhood. In order to make strong claims about the DBS's trait-like properties and predictive validity, a clearer understanding of its early development is required.
In a pilot study aimed at developing a behavioral coding system for dominance, a key facet of the DBS, we collected and coded observational data from 58 children, assessed at ages 3 and 5-6. These data were examined in conjunction with measures of child temperament via observational measures, and symptoms of psychopathology.
Dominance was moderately stable in early childhood to a degree comparable to other early child temperament traits. Consistent with the study hypotheses, boys were more dominant than girls, and dominance was negatively associated with children's behavioral inhibition, effortful control, and internalizing symptoms.
These results provide initial support for the validity and developmental sensitivity of an objective coding system for assessing facets of the DBS in early childhood. Ultimately, the use of this coding system will facilitate future studies of how early DBS predicts psychological adjustment later in life.
支配行为系统（DBS）是一个基于生物学的系统，它是个体在支配欲和权力动机方面存在差异的基础。然而，对于儿童期的DBS却知之甚少。为了有力地论证DBS的特质样属性和预测效度，需要更清晰地了解其早期发展。
在一项旨在开发一种用于支配行为（DBS的一个关键方面）的行为编码系统的试点研究中，我们收集并编码了58名儿童在3岁以及5至6岁时的观察数据。这些数据与通过观察测量得到的儿童气质指标以及精神病理学症状一同进行了检验。
在幼儿期，支配行为具有一定程度的稳定性，与其他幼儿气质特质相当。与研究假设一致，男孩比女孩更具支配性，且支配行为与儿童的行为抑制、努力控制和内化症状呈负相关。
这些结果为一种用于评估幼儿期DBS各方面的客观编码系统的效度和发展敏感性提供了初步支持。最终，使用这种编码系统将有助于未来研究早期DBS如何预测后期生活中的心理调适。
